Classroom News: April 20, 2018

Multicultural Feast!
Wow!  Thank you to all the parents who worked so hard to create the food we enjoyed at our feast!  We had a wide array of foods for the kids to sample.  The class was open-minded and willing to try new foods.  At the end I asked many students about a new food they tried.  They were happy to share and then share their opinion on it.  Some foods were not a food they enjoyed, but other people in the room did enjoy it.  That gave us an opportunity to discuss how each of us have difference preferences.  What a wonderful learning opportunity!  Everyone's participation was essential and appreciated.

Friday, April 27
Friday, April 27 has become a non-student contact day.  Let's talk about why that came about.  A large number of teachers from districts across the state decided to leave their classrooms on the 27th to visit the state capital to discuss education issues with our legislators.  Although one of the issues being discussed will be teacher salary, educators are also interested in preserving PERA, our retirement pension.  Teachers do not pay into Social Security.  Instead, we pay into PERA.  If the policies around that are changed in the ways that have been suggested, teachers will not be able to retire the way we have been promised since the beginning of our careers.

Although we will be down at the Capital discussing these issues, another issue that is of the utmost importance is per student funding.  This is the amount each school district is given per student.  Right now, Colorado ranks #47 out of 50 states on per pupil funding.  This is not sufficient!  Our children deserve more!  If we had additional funding, we could have smaller class sizes, we could go on more field trips, we could bring real world learning into the classrooms.  Our students would get more from their education.  They deserve that.  This will be the focus of my time at the Capital next Friday.

https://www.greateducation.org/statistics-faqs/statistics/


Zoo Field Trip
At the Multicultural Feast, I had an opportunity to talk to parents about a trip to the zoo.  When I started teaching, our field trip was to the zoo.  It was a valuable trip for all children!  This year, we went to Boulder Dinner Theater to see Robinson Crusoe (which was fantastic).  I asked if parents would be willing to take their children to the zoo for a field trip.  I heard a resounding YES!  So I have contacted the Denver Zoo about a day there.  It will be Tuesday, May 1 at 10:00.  You will be required to get your child to the zoo and stay with them at the zoo.  We will have a discounted admission fee of $6 for each child and $6 for each adult.  This is less than the $17 for adults and $12 for children regular admission fee.  What a bargain!  Please let me know asap if you will join us there and how many children and adults will be in your group.  Once inside the zoo, you are welcome to enjoy the day on a self guided field trip.

Kindergarten T-Shirts
It is time for Kindergarten T-shirts!  I have ordered them.  I will ask the children what stencil they would like on their shirt and then kids will be able to use puffy paint to decorate their shirt.  Please send in $5 for the shirt.  This also covers the cost of the puffy paint and fabric markers. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

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